Anta do Monte Abraão

Anta do Monte Abraão is a megalithic burial monument near Queluz e Belas built from large limestone blocks arranged to form a polygonal inner space and a passage. The stones show their age with weathering and marks from centuries of exposure to the elements.

This monument dates to the Neolithic period, built thousands of years ago to serve as a burial place. A Portuguese geologist named Carlos Ribeiro excavated the site in the 1870s and discovered many artifacts and skeletal remains that revealed details about its ancient use.

The name Monte Abraão reflects the area's religious history. Visitors can see how the stone arrangement reveals that multiple generations and community members were laid to rest together in this shared burial space.

The site is open to the public year-round without special requirements. Since this is an exposed archaeological location, visitors should watch their footing on the uneven ground and be careful when walking between the stones.

The stones are aligned in an east-west direction, suggesting the ancient builders understood the movement of the sun. A few of the blocks still bear visible ancient carvings and marks that hint at the intentions and beliefs of the people who built this burial place.